Paint planning

[TJ_Slice]

Starting to consider my options for a paint scheme. I am quite conflicted on this one.

On one hand, I would love to have a really cool paint scheme. On the other, if I make it too nice, I fear that I will be hesitant to take my Bearhawk the places that I want to take it.

I thought that I would have a professionally designed paint scheme, but now I am not so sure.

I am considering a nice and easy to paint 2 color paint scheme, and then augmenting that with vinyl.

I'd love to hear anyone's experience with vinyl. How durable is it, and how easy is it to apply, repair, or replace?

[geraldmorrissey]

I know a RV builder that had a vinyl stripe and it has held up well. Looks like new and it must be 10 years old the last time I saw it. I 've admired the TCraft paint scheme my whole life. One color overall. A simple stripe tapering aft. The wild multi colored stuff I see on many RV's is just too much for my taste. Seems like a utility aircraft should be somewhat understated. But then that's just me. On the Bearhawk, we have the opportunity to polish the wings. For me thats just too good to pass up. Plus primer paint and clear coat is heavy. Just my .02.

[noema]

I had a similar thought process. Wanted a paint scheme that degrades nicely under use with some vinyl decals I can redo when I feel like. There are different adhesives you can choose from. I opted for the one that can easily be removed (ORACAL 631, 3M has similar offerings) with the idea I rather redo the decals every so often than having to deal with not getting them off. I might change my mind if they come off too early. So far they seem solid enough.

Some observations:

The cowl gets fairly hot and the decals get the hotter the higher up the are on the cowl. I believe there may be a point where the adhesive won't cooperate anymore (also depending OAT).

Matching the decal color to the prop is a nice touch (happy accident on my design, but would do again)

Flat/matte decals look really nice in person and are more forgiving with surface imperfections (dirt or air bubbles caught under during application).

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[TJ_Slice]

Thanks for the input. It looks great!

[rodsmith]

Very nice paint scheme, beautiful plane!

[podo]

Stefan, your airplane is beautiful.

[rodsmith]

Starting to consider my options for a paint scheme. I am quite conflicted on this one.

On one hand, I would love to have a really cool paint scheme. On the other, if I make it too nice, I fear that I will be hesitant to take my Bearhawk the places that I want to take it.

I thought that I would have a professionally designed paint scheme, but now I am not so sure.

I am considering a nice and easy to paint 2 color paint scheme, and then augmenting that with vinyl.

I'd love to hear anyone's experience with vinyl. How durable is it, and how easy is it to apply, repair, or replace?

It took me so long to build my plane, I probably came up with twenty different paint schemes during that time. I briefly considered using one of the design services but am proud that I did my own. It was fun taping it off for the second color standing back and seeing how it looked, modifying it until it was what I wanted. Professionals will tell you that the biggest mistake is making trim lines too thin. I was guilty of that with the rearward trim line on mine, but I still think it looks pretty good. I didn't use any vinyl but I think it is a great idea. Saves a lot of work if you are painting it yourself.

[Battson]

TJ - I was in the same boat to begin with. I figured that simple paint would help keep repairs simple. Let me tell you - damage will occur. But in hindsight, the paint doesn't make much difference during a big repair. A large paint repair is hard either way, and small repairs are often untidy for two-pot paints. Generally minor nicks and scrapes don't get repaired one at a time, you save them up for a large "repair sweep" at a convenient time.

In the event of a larger accident, the painting is only a relatively minor part of the repair process. Also, accidents are rare and usually avoidable. As your flying matures, you tend to take fewer risks and the chances of an accident reduces a lot.

If I were learning to fly, or planning to take a lot of aviation risks, then I would have very simple paint. Think extreme off airport operations - very few Bearhawkers actually do extreme off airport ops, mind you - I am talking about regular visits to unmaintained surfaces or 150ft gravel bars. You are going to wipe-out sooner or later, if you keep that up. I would also go high-vis to help with eventual rescue.

If I were an experienced pilot with loosely >1500 hours experience, then get whatever paint you want. I am envisaging a pilot who is planning on using the aircraft conventionally, mostly on formed airstrips, with occasional but carefully managed off airport visits. This is how 95% of Bearhawks are used, so chances are yours will be too.

If you wanted a halfway house....

The areas which I think are most commonly damaged are the main landing gear legs, the tail-wings - and in more serious accidents, wing tips and outer wing sections, and cowling. If you kept those areas simple, then chances are you can still still do simple paint repairs, in the event you do have a mishap. Personally, I would avoid having vinyl in those areas too, as chances are it will complicate future repairs - especially the areas prone to rock damage and prop-blown sandblasting.

[TJ_Slice]

I was more referring to just paint/covering damage. I just don't want to get into the situation where I am babying my paint job.

[alaskabearhawk]

Hey TJ...I consider my paint to be my hangar. When I was building, I was planning on parking it on the ramp, along with many other aircraft as covered parking availability is rare and hangars are even more rare. They are going for $185K and up at my home airport if you want to buy one...and none are available! They sell before they are even constructed.

I'm one of the guys Battson was referring to. I'm not going to go into some really wild places, but gravel strips are plentiful here and certainly doable. Anyway, my thought is if the paint gets damaged I would need to touch it up to keep moisture from creating more problems. The covering/paint system I used is very friendly to repairs and that's why I chose it. It just so happened that a friend was selling his covered parking at Soldotna Airport right when I was done with my BH. I raided my retirement account and immediately bought it. So, a bullet dodged there. But, parking outside is a real concern here in Alaska. Wind, rain, wind, snow, wind, intense sun in summer and the occasional volcano eruption are all factors to think of. Did I mention wind? YMMV

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[Bcone1381]

Simple paint jobs are not a compromise. Most aircraft are simply beautiful shapes. Bob's Bearhawk design is no exception. A simple paint job puts this glamour on display.

One of my four sons is an artist. He refused to help me design my paint job and told me to make a 50 page coloring book of the side view and get out my colored pencils. The simpler my paint jobs got the more I liked it. I also figured that I could paint a straight line, but doubted my ability to cast a curved line onto the fabric. I saw more than a few curved lines on aircraft that looked fair at best when I judged it....and I'm a nobody who knows nothing.

This is what I came up with. The line is the Thrust Line from the plans.

All brown parts were painted while disassembled. (but the belly is brown). I would not paint the fuselage's Trust Line again....I would use a graphic product. The white on the Rudder's checkerboard is graphic. Color matching the paint and graphic is a barrier to cross. I put black 3m black vinyl on the top of to cowl for safety purposes....I had a sever Top Cowl - Sun Reflection event during landing one calm evening. When I replayed that risk I came up with "I crashed because the sun got in my eyes." (Laughter!!) I think cowl heat might cause some shrinkage in my vinyl.

Making the pages of the coloring book from plans, then using an app is another topic we can discuss.

Edit...one more thing. Simple is light and its fast. I left some stuff aluminum. Its part of the "ambience". Struts, Forward Door Formers. Its okay. Wheels and Brakes are! Spinner! Cowl Latches. Exhaust stacks that stick out, tailwheel spring. Hardware...I did not paint any hardware. It all goes together.


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[TJ_Slice]

That looks classy! I am leaning in the direction of a simple 2 tone white & yellow with blue vinyl stripes. Whatever I decide, my wife insists on having veto power. If you did it again, would you paint the top of the cowling?

[TimTall]

I like simple. I thought I'd end up putting a vinyl accent on the fuselage but haven't gotten around to it yet. An accent colour on separate parts is an easy way to add a more finished look without the trouble of masking and spraying multiple colours. In a homemade spray booth in the garage simplicity was an important factor. It was already stressful enough getting a good result with one colour. I didn't want to take the chance of masking and spraying more paint on to a finished part that turned out well.
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